COLUMBIA, S.C. — Hey birders, it's time to retrieve your binoculars and field guides and get out and participate in the annual Great Backyard Bird Count.
During this year's count, Feb. 16 through 19, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is conducting its Baltimore Oriole Winter Survey. The colorful songbirds have traditionally wintered further south, in southern Florida, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
In the past several decades, Baltimore orioles have been found wintering much closer to home. During the 2023 count, 25 counties in South Carolina reported orioles, up from 22 counties in 2022. The counties reporting the most sightings in 2023 were Charleston, Beaufort, Dorchester, Horry and Florence; the Upstate counties reported orioles as far west as Oconee County.
The birds seem to be attracted to other bird activity near backyard feeders. Orioles seem to be attracted to locations that offer a variety of food, water and shelter. While they will eat many types of seeds, suet products, nuts and fruit mixes, according to SCDNR, Baltimore orioles are partial to grape jelly.
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If you want to participate in the oriole count, you must:
- Be able to identify Baltimore orioles from other bird species correctly. A field guide to birds is a great resource for distinguishing between Baltimore orioles, cardinals, and American (red-breasted) robins
- Access the survey form and materials online at South Carolina Wintering Baltimore Oriole Survey (arcgis.com)
- Between Feb. 16 and 19, count and record the largest number of Baltimore orioles you see at one time on one, two, three or all four days of the survey.
SCDNR will use the data collected from the oriole survey and the Great Backyard Bird Count to develop a "big picture" as to what is happening with populations of Baltimore orioles and other bird species.
